Emery m



(No Model.)

B. M. HAMILTON. KEY FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

No. 430,774. Patented June 24, 1.890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMERY M. HAMILTON, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

KEY FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,774, dated June 24,1890.

Application filed February 10, 1890. Serial No. 839,769. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMERY M. HAMILTON, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Keys for Type-Writing Machines, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to What are known as the finger-keys oftype-writing machines; and myinvention consists in the combination, in afinger-key, of an indeX-1etter-bearing disk provided with a stem with astern on the key-lever, said stem being united endwise by a cylindricalend of one stem seated in a cylindrical longitudinal socket in the otherstem, said socket-wall being longitudinally slotted, and said stemhavingaradial projection from the cylindrical part thereof fitting insaid slot in the socket-wall, as hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a finger-key containing my invention anda portion of the key-lever of a type-writing machine and the key-leverstem on which the finger-key is mounted. Fig. 2 is a vertical centralsection of a fin ger-key containing my invention. Fig. 3 is aplan of theface of the key. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the key in verticalcentral section. Fig. 5 illustrates, partly in section, the blank orpiece from which the button and stem of my key are formed in the samepiece with each other at the first step in the construction thereof; andFig. 6 illustrates the recessed button and stem in a completed state,with the letter-bearing disk and transparent coveringdisk in position tobe united to the button.

In fabricating my improved finger-key I form upon one end of a metal rodor bar a, (shown in Fig. 5,) by means of a suitable die or dies, adisk-like head or button I), thus producing the blank illustrated insaid Fig. 5, in which the disk is integral or in one and the same piecewith the rod or stem (4 on which it is formed.

Upon the upper face of the disk or button I), I place an index letter orcharacter, as shown in Fig. 3, and I preferably accomplish this byforming by means of a suitable die or dies an annular flange b. on theupper face of the button, and which flange is integral with the button,thus constituting an annular recess b in the said upper face of thebutton, and I then place a disk C, bearing the index letter or characteron its outward face, at the bottom of said recess, and a transparentcovering-disk D, as of glass or celluloid, over said disk 0 in saidrecess, the said disks 0 and D being adapted in their diameters to fitto the said recess 6 I find it preferable in forming the recess 19 tohave its diameter at its btttom somewhat greater than at its top, asshown in Figs. 2, i, and 6, and to have the thin letter-bearin g disk Gannular and substantially of the same diameter as the bottom of theannular recess b and also to have the transparent disk D of a greaterdiameter at its under perimeter than at its upper perimeter, with suchdiameters of said disk substantially equal to or the same as therespective corresponding diameters of the recess 19 as shown. The recess19 may be formed with these differing diameters by means of a suitabledie or dies when the flange b is initially formed on the button I), andthe disk C, being thin and flexible, as of paper, maybe readilyintroduced to and seated in the bottom of the recess, while the disk D,as described, being formed of some comparatively elastic material, ascelluloid, may be sprung or forced to its seat in the annular recess W,or the said recess 11 may be initially formed with the same diameterthroughout, and when the described disks 0 and D are seated therein, asset forth, the flange Z) may, by means of a suitable die or dies, becrimped inwardly at its top to make its diameter thereat less than atits bottom and to cause the inner side of said flange to fit to thedescribed periphery of the disk D.

E represents the front end of a key-lever of a type-writing machine, ande a stem or vertical extension thereon and usually pivotally connectedthereto.

In constructing and arranging my improved finger-key I find it desirableto make the stem at thereof cylindrical, as shown, and to unite saidstem to the stem 2 of the key-lever,likewise preferably cylindrical, bya tubular socket in one of said stems, into which socket the other andcylindrical stem is seated endwise. I prefer to form the socket in thekeystem at, as shown at at, extending from the lower end longitudinallyof said stem, and I prefer to form said socket of a somewhat lessdiameter than the diameter of the lever-stem e, and to slot the Wall ofsaid socket longitudinally, as shown at a whereby the socketwall may bespread a little in seating the lever-stem c in the socket, so that whenthus seated the lever-stem will be closely hugged by the socket-wall.The socket may, however, be formed in the lever-stem e, as at e, and thekey-stem a fitted therein, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon the cylindricalstem, which is seated in the tubular socket, I form a radial projectione adapted to pass into and project-more or less through the slot (1 inthe socket-Wall. The finger-key is by the means described detachablyjointed to the key-lever and at the same time is prevented from turningin its socket-seat when once seated.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination, with a finger-keycomposed of an indexletter-bearing disk and a stem thereon, of a stem onthe key-lever, said stems being united endwise by a cylindrical end onone stem seated in a cylindrical longitudinal socket in the other stem,said socket-wall being longitudinally slotted, and said stem having aradial projection from the cylindrical part thereof fitting in saidslotin the socket-wall, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a finger-key composedof an, indexletter-bearing disk provided with a stem having thelongitudinal tubular socket a and a slot a in said socket-wall with acylindrical key-lever stem 6, adapted to fit to said socket, and havinga radial projection a adapted to be seated in said slot, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

EMERY M. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD STEPHENS, FRANK B. PIERDON.

